Maintenance Technician Named St. Barnabas' Employee of the Year
Earl Fish Jr. lauded during annual Employee Recognition Event
Gibsonia, Pa. - Jan. 30, 2008 - Earl Fish Jr. of Curtisville, a maintenance technician for the St. Barnabas Communities, was named St. Barnabas Health System's 2007 Hoppy Award winner. Fish was nominated by his co-workers and selected for the honor, which is St. Barnabas' equivalent of an Employee of the Year, from among 583 employees. He was presented with the award on Jan. 24 by William V. Day, president of St. Barnabas Health System, during the Health System's annual Employee Recognition Program.
Fish is a 13-year veteran of St. Barnabas Health System and has worked in the maintenance department the entire time. For the last several years, he has been responsible for the day-to-day maintenance needs of The Washington Place at
St. Barnabas, which includes 23 apartments, a restaurant that seats 120, and the 350-seat Kean Theatre. In presenting Fish with the award, Day referenced the comments from those who nominated Fish: "exemplifies perfection," "does his tasks in a timely fashion and makes sure they're done right," "always ready to please or to help," "thought of as shy but always smiling," "hardworking" and "a role model."
Fish, smiling ear-to-ear, said he was surprised to receive the Hoppy Award and that it was a great feeling. "It's nice to know you're appreciated for what you do," he said. "And I'm glad everyone feels that way."
Fish is a graduate of Deer Lakes High School and holds an associate's degree from Triangle Tech. He is the father of a 7½-year-old son, Braden. In his spare time, Fish enjoys hunting and fishing.
Fish is the 24th person to receive the Hoppy Award, which is inscribed with the words: "Recognized for outstanding loyalty and service to St. Barnabas Health System, fellow employees and the community." Day also gave Fish a Pittsburgh Steelers ballcap. The Hoppy Award is named for the late Ralph L. Blessley (1918-1984), a 19-year employee of St. Barnabas Nursing Home.
Blessley was a former patient of St. Barnabas who was affectionately known as "Hoppy" because a bone disease had left him with one leg shorter than the other, causing him to have an unusual gait. Going beyond his duties as a maintenance worker,
Hoppy raised plants, built a greenhouse and made little tables for patients. He raised $2,300 for St. Barnabas' annual fund-raising event by selling items he made. During his 19 years of employment, he missed less than 10 days work.
Also during the program, 55 employees were recognized for reaching longevity milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 years of service during 2007. Conducting the program were former Hoppy Award winners Linda Smith, a Licensed Practical Nurse at St. Barnabas Nursing Home; Karen Trapp, a Licensed Practical Nurse at St. Barnabas Nursing Home; and Margot Kreutzer, Marketing Coordinator for St. Barnabas Health System. Featured speakers were Sue Owens, a cook at St. Barnabas Nursing Home and the 2004 Hoppy Award winner, and Fay Young, a Certified Nursing Assistant at St. Barnabas Nursing Home and the 2006 Hoppy Award winner.
About St. Barnabas, St. Barnabas Health System is the largest health care concern of its kind in Pennsylvania and offers service apart from the ordinary in a faith-based, non-denominational setting. Tracing its heritage back to 1900, the system serves approximately 900 inpatients and residents, plus 35,000 outpatients and home care clients. The health system is composed of the
St. Barnabas Communities, including The Village at St. Barnabas, The Washington Place at St. Barnabas and The Woodlands at St. Barnabas; St. Barnabas Clinical Services, including St. Barnabas Nursing Home, St. Barnabas Medical Center, Valencia Woods at St. Barnabas and The Arbors at St. Barnabas; the Kean Theatre; and St. Barnabas Charities, the fund-raising arm.
Contact:
Kathleen Brenneman
(724) 444-5530
kbrenneman@stbarnabashealthsystem.com
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